Gum Disease: What You Need to Know
Learn what gum disease is, why it matters, and how to protect your smile.
Gum Disease is one of the main causes of Tooth Loss
Most adults in the UK have gum disease to some degree, and most people experience it at least once. It’s one of the main reasons that adults lose teeth. Source
Periodontitis is the 6th most common disease in the world, and is significantly linked to general well-being and longevity. Source
Gum disease weakens the bone and tissues that hold your teeth
Left untreated, this destruction leads to loose teeth — and eventually, tooth loss
Dental implants, bridges & dentures are the most effective way to replace missing teeth, but they require healthy gums and bone to succeed
That’s why controlling gum disease is the first step in your implant journey
What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease is caused by bacteria in dental plaque. At first, it shows up as gingivitis — red, swollen gums that bleed when you brush. The good news: Gingivitis is reversible with proper care.
If left untreated, it can progress to periodontitis, a more serious condition. Here, gums pull away from the teeth, forming “pockets” where bacteria hide. The infection destroys the bone supporting your teeth. Unlike gingivitis, this stage is not reversible and may lead to loose or lost teeth
Healthy
Periodontitis
Signs of Gum Disease
Look out for these warning signs:
Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing
Red, swollen, or tender gums
Bad breath that doesn’t go away
Receding gums (teeth look “longer”)
Shifting or loose teeth
If you notice these symptoms, see your dentist or hygienist promptly. Early treatment makes all the difference.
1. Inflamed Gum 2. Plaque & Calculus 3. Pocket 4. Bone Loss
FAQs
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Almost everyone will experience gingivitis at some point. But not everyone develops the more serious form, periodontitis.
You may be at higher risk if you:
Smoke or vape
Have diabetes or certain health conditions
Take medications that affect your immune system
Have a family history of gum disease
Don’t maintain consistent plaque control
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Research shows strong links between gum disease and overall health. Untreated periodontitis may increase your risk of:
Heart disease
Poorly controlled blood sugar
Pregnancy complications (pre-term or low birth-weight babies)
Osteoporosis
Alzheimer’s disease
Taking care of your gums helps protect your whole body.
Protect your gums — protect your health. Book An Assessment Today.
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Your dentist or hygienist can check for gum disease and show you how to care for your gums at home. In more advanced cases, or if standard treatment isn’t enough, you may be referred to a periodontist — a specialist in gum disease care.
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A periodontist is a dentist with advanced training in diagnosing, treating, and preventing gum disease. They also specialise in supporting dental implants by ensuring the gums and bone are healthy enough to keep them secure.
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Treatment removes harmful plaque and tartar, allowing gums to heal and “tighten” back against teeth. This helps stop bone loss and stabilises your condition.
Benefits include:
Healthier gums and fresher breath
Lower risk of tooth loss
Easier brushing and eating
Improved blood sugar control for people with diabetes
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Periodontitis can return if not carefully managed. That’s why ongoing care is vital. Regular hygienist visits, combined with good daily brushing and flossing, keep your gums stable for the long term.
Gum health is a lifelong partnership. Take the first step today.
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If gum disease has already led to tooth loss, missing teeth can be replaced with:
Dentures
Bridges
Dental implants (once the gums are stable)
Important: Dental implants should only be placed when gum disease is fully under control. Otherwise, the infection can damage the implants just like natural teeth.
Learn About Implant Treatments
Meet our Periodontist
With over 20 years of experience, Sarah Diederich is a trusted specialist in gum disease treatment. She is highly respected across Sussex for her caring approach and excellent results. Patients often praise her ability to make complex treatment feel comfortable and reassuring.
“My periodontist, Sarah, could not have been more considerate, professional and talented. She and her team made sure I was comfortable and encouraged me throughout treatment. Thanks to her care, my gums are healthy again, and I was able to keep teeth that were at risk.”
Detailed information on Gum Disease
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Everyone is susceptible to gingivitis. Gingivitis, which is gum inflammation, is caused by the presence of plaque, leading to red, swollen, and often bleeding, tender gums.
Over time, persistent plaque can calcify on the teeth, forming a hardened porous deposit known as tartar.
The treatment for gingivitis involves removing plaque by a dental health professional, along with maintaining a good standard of daily dental hygiene by the individual.
Plaque can be removed through tooth brushing and cleaning between the teeth, but once it hardens into tartar, these deposits require removal by a professional cleaning from a hygienist, dental therapist, or dentist.
It is a reversible condition, as the removal of plaque and tartar will eliminate all signs and symptoms of gingivitis.
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Although not everyone is susceptible to periodontitis, it is common, being in fact the sixth most common disease in the world. Approximately half of us exhibit some degree of periodontitis, and about 10% of the world’s population displays a severe form of the disease. It mainly occurs in adults; it can start at any age within adulthood.
Periodontitis occurs if gingivitis does not resolve due to the continued presence of plaque, allowing the bacteria to spread along the tooth surface, including below the gum line. This plaque eventually eats away at the gum tissue connecting to the tooth surface, peeling the gum away to form a space below the gum line, called a pocket, and this destruction results in bone loss and possibly gum recession.
As the plaque continues to spread down the side of the tooth, the pocket increases in depth. The deeper the pocket, the larger the reservoir of plaque that can be contained within the pocket. Unless treated, the affected tooth can become loose, and in some cases, can be lost.
The extent of periodontitis can vary from person to person, and its rate of destruction can vary within that individual. In some cases, the individual is free from any symptoms, but in those that do, the most common symptoms are the following:
Red, swollen gums
Tender gums, which are prone to bleeding
Spontaneously bleeding gums. For instance, blood may be noticed on the pillow.
Loose teeth
Receding gums, resulting in the apparent lengthening of teeth.
Drifting teeth, possibly leading to a change in which the teeth meet when biting together.
Bad taste
Persistent bad breath
Sensitive teeth.
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Although plaque is the only actual cause of periodontitis, habits like smoking and vaping, as well as conditions such as diabetes and certain autoimmune diseases, can increase people’s susceptibility to the condition. There is also a link between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, dementia, and osteoporosis.
Periodontitis can cause gum tenderness, swelling, recession, and loose teeth. Unlike gingivitis, periodontitis is not reversible, and if allowed to progress, it can lead to significant bone loss, increasing the risk of loose teeth. Increased mobility of teeth can sometimes reduce the ability to chew or even prevent the patient from eating completely with the affected teeth. Severe bone loss can eventually result in tooth loss.
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